Closure



w. H. KNOWLES May 7, 1929.

CLOSURE Filed Aug. 50 1924 lllllllilllll iNVENTOR vf/ofiznj ATTORNEYPatented May 7, 19291 UNITED STATES;

1,712,274 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. KNOWLES, OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK,

SIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL BOTTLE CAP CORPORATION, 01 PORT CHESTER, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLOSURE.

' Application filed August 30, 1924. Serial No. 735,081.

This invention relates to a receptacle closurefand aims to provide adevice of this character particularly .adapted for use in connectionwith the sealing of receptacles of the milkbottle type.

lit is an object of the invention to provide a closure of improvedconstruction which may readily be applied-to a receptacle by aninexperienced person, and by means of a simple form of tool so "that bythe practice of the present invention it becomes unnecessary to utilizea large and expensive outlay of apparatus, thus enabling a relativelysmall dairyman or other user to readily employ the closure.

A further object of the invention is that ofproviding a device of thecharacter stated,

which, when in applied position, will serve to furnish a positiveseal,-thus' preventing the entrance of foreign matter into thereceptacle, or the spillage of-any of the contents of the latter.

A. still further object is to be predicated on the furnishing of aclosure which will be of: such a nature, and applied in such a manner,that the danger of receptacle breakage is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the present invention,

embraces the thought of providing a closure 7 which will notaccidentally become unsealed, but which, when desired, may readily beopened without injury to the fingers.

Still another object is that of providing an improved closure preferablyof such a nature that when the same is once opened it may be readilydetached, or, in fact, will.

be practically automatically removed from the receptacle with which itis associated, so that upon the return of the latter for the purpose ofcleansing, refilling and rescaling, no time will be lost in the removal'ofthc previously used seal.

1 An additional object is that of providing a closure which willeiliciently perform the purposes for which it is intended, and whichwill also be'economically and readily manufactured and assembled.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article herebe had to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a receptacle neck having applied theretoone form of closure constructed within the terms of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the closure member prior to theapplication thereof to a cap;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the separated ends of oneportion of the closure member;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, illustrating these end-portions in joinedposition;

l igs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 5-5and 6-6, respecthe accompanying ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- tively, and inthe direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slightly differentconstruction which may be resorted to, if desired; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary side elevations of closure memberportions. Referring primarily to Fig. 1 it will be noted that theinvention has been shown as used in connection with a receptacle of themilk bottle type. It will be appreciated, however, that a closure of thenature hereinafter described will lend itself for'use in connection withWidely varying types of receptacles, and for numerous differentpurposes.

Thus, the reference numeral 10 indicates the neck of a bottle, which isformed with a lip 11 adjacent its month. In order to close this outletportion of the receptacle a ca of any desirable material may beemployed, which includes a' depressed or cup-shaped central portion 12,a body 13 and a skirtportion 14. A cap of this type is, in manyrespects, particularly advantageous, in that by using the same it isnotnecessary to employ an inner sealin addition tothe cap, it beingunderstood that heretofore it has been customary to utilize asupplemental sealing member in the nature of a disk of material.

More particularly it will be found that bv employing a cap of the natureaforedetual practice that where this form of construction is employed anextremely desirable seal-is provided, which possesses all the advantagesof the cap commonly used at present, while having none of thedisadvantages of the same.

The present invention concerns itself, however, to a great extent withthat portion of a closure member which serves as a seal. In the presentinstance, this member is in the na ture-of a split band having a flatbody 16, preferably formed of a somewhat bendable material and curved inshape so that its ends may be readily brought to points adjacent eachother. These ends are preferably in the nature of oflset portions Hand18, respectively, and in the formation'of these portions flanges 19 mabe provided, which extend between the si e edges of the band body andthe end-portions thereof, and serve to sufliciently rigidity the partsto thus prevent an accidental unbending of the end-portions.

Now, with the view of connecting these end-portions to ether it will benoted in the present exemplification that the part 17 is formed with anopening 20 of a diameter suflicient to accommodate a collar 21, whichforms a part of the end-portion 18. In practice this collar is passedthrough the opening 20, and is subsequently bent to extend out wardly atportionsadjacent its edge, whereby it is prevented from being retractedthrough the opening aforenamed.

With the view of providing means serving toprevent a breakage of thereceptacle u onone of the closure members being app ied thereto it willbe noted, as has been clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, that the body 16 ofthe band may be formed with one or more series of corrugations 22. Thesecorrugations are obviously formed in the band prior to its applicationto the cap or other element with which it is associated. Thus, assumingthat the closure member is being used in conjunction with a cap of thenature illustrated in Fig. 1, the latter may be ap liedto the mouth ofthe receptacle, and the and constituting the closure member may besubsequently ap-' plied to the cap skirt-portion, and if by means of asuitable and relatively simple tool the ends 17 .and 18 are now drawntogether, it

will be understood, assuming that the diameter ofthe receptacle neck issuch that the 4, so that the parts Will-be locked against accidentalremoval.

In this connection it is to be noted, as a matter of fact it ispreferred, that the effective length of the closure member be such as tobe inadequate to completely enclose the neck of the receptacle, so thatin each instance it will be necessary for the corrugated portions to bestretched in order to seal the closuremember. Infact, it is in mostinstances desirable to have the effective length of this retaining meanssli litly less than the girth of thereceptacle at t e point ofapplication of the former to the latter, it being understood that bythis expedient the cap portion of the closure is virtually anchored inposition. The amount of the stretching will of course vary, incident tothe variations in the size of the individual receptaclcs, but in noinstance will this stretching affect the tightness of the seal providedin that, first, the corrugated portionsare relativel stiff, andsecondly, the band, being pre erably of a somewhat resilient material,will tend to resume its original effective length, which willnecessarily result in an extremely tight.

seal being formed. Furthermore, it has been noted that, incident toproviding a band which will accommodate itself to variations in thediameter and contour of a receptacle portion, the latter will at no timebecome broken during the application of the closure, thus avoiding oneof the major objections to closures as heretofore utilized in connectionwith milk bottles or similar receptacles.

It will be obvious that with the closure member mounted, a previousopening thereof will be immediately apparent in that the retainingmember which forms a part of the closure and serves to secure the cap in1- tion upon the receptacle will have 11 broken. On the other hand, ifit is desired to open this closure this may readily be accomplished in anumber of desirable manners. For example, assuming that the memberembraces the construction disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it willbe merely necessary to introduce the point of an ice-pick, prong of afork or other desirable implement thrgpgh the opening or bore of thecollar, an to slight y swing this im lement. This action will cause theband encii-x to be twisted, which forcibly retracted from its positionwithln and beyond the opening 20.

Likewise, a knife or similar instrument may be utilized to open theclosure member, in that till tld

an instrument of this nature may be moved to occupy a position atwhichits edge will extend between the opposing faces of the endportions 17and 18, whereupon, by slightly twisting the implement utilized (in orderto obtain a lever action), these parts may be forced apart. In order tosimplify this action the end-portions 17 and 18 may be joined in such amanner that a decided space exists between their outer faces at pointsadjacent their upper ed es, this having been indicated at 23 in Fig. Bythis expedient the introduction of a properimplement into the spaceaforementioned is greatly facilitated, and consequently, the operationof opening the closure member in the last described manner is somewhatexpedited.

lln certain instances, where it is not desired to utilize an implementin the manner aforedescribed, the opening of the closure member may beeffected by incorporating a rupturable point in the band. Thus, in Fig.8 it will be noted that a pair of opposed ll-shaped notches 2 f havebeen shown, which notches, although serving to weaken the band at thispoint, nevertheless do not sufficiently impair the strength of the bandso that an accidental loosening of the same would result. Nevertheless,a prong of a fork or a similar imple ment may be placed adjacent thebase of one notch and moved so that the strip will readily rupturethrough to the other notch. Like wise, if desired, as in Fig. 9, theband body may be formed with an opening 25, from one end of whichdiverging score-lines 26 extend. Thus, by simply gripping and pullingthose portions of the band which are between the score-lines the bandwill again be ruptured.

ltn any event, and regardless of how the band is opened, it will benoted that when once opened the fact of such opening is readily apparentto anyone glancing at the receptacle. Also, it will be impracticable fora person to endeavor to reconnect the parts with out this fact beingimmediately perceptible, and the closure member will in the naturalcourse of events be detached from the receptacle, so that when thelatter is returned for refilling it does not become necessary to removethis member.

From, the foregoing it is obvious that, among others, those ob]ectsspecifically aforementioned are accomplished, and since certain changesmay be made in the above article and difl'erent embodiments of theinvention could be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limit ing sense.

ft is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as .amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and Patent is:

1. A closure, including, in combination, a cap having a depending skirtand a split band encircling said skirt and having its body corrugated toprovide an expansible ends of said band being adapted towards each otherto an extent to be drawn sufiicient to stretch said expansible portion,and means,

forming a part of the band ends whereby they may be interlocked.

2. A closure, including, in combination, a

desire to secure by Letters portion, the

caphaving a depending skirt and a split band band permanently beinglocked together, said band having its ends destructibly separable inorder to open said. closure;

4. A closure, including, in combination, a

cap having a dependin skirt and a split band encircling said skirt, 0set end-portions forming a part of said band, one of said portionspresenting an opening, a collar forming a part of the second end-portionthereof and adapted to be extended through said opening and to have itsouter end subsequently deformed to prevent a separation of said ends.

5. A closure, includin in combination, a

cap having a depending s rirt and a split bandencircling said skirt,offset end-portions forming a part of said band, reinforcing flangesextending between the band body and the endportions, and means formlngapart of one of said end-portions and adapted to engage the secondend-portion and to be subsequently deformed to normally prevent adetachment of said end-portions.

6. As an article of manufacture, a closure band, including a bodyadapted to be applied tea receptacle, and a non-resilient, permanentlystretchable-- portion forming an integral part of said body.

7. As an article of manufacture, a closure band, including a bodyadapted to be applied to a receptacle, and corrugated substantiallynon-resilientportions forming a part of said band and providing meanswhereby said band may be accommodated to different sizes of receptacleportions.

8. A closure, including a body comprising integral non-resilientpermanently stretchable and non-stretchable portions.

9. A closure for receptacles, including, in combination, a cap having adownwardly-extehdingskirt and a locking band disposed to encircle saidskirt, the ends of said band extending Substantially at right angles tothe.

body thereof, means forming a part of said ends and joining the same,said means presenting a substantially flat face en aging thecorresponding face of one of the and ends for locking the same againstrelative movement. i

'10. A closure for receptacles, including, in

- combination, a cap having a downwardly-ex tending skirt and a lockingband disposed to said skirt and being initially of insufficient lengthto encircle the same said band having a deformed poi'tion where it maybe elon- 'gated sufficiently to encirc e the same, and

means forming an integral part of the band ends for directly connectingthe same.

12. A closure for receptacles, including a split band to be appliedaround the skirt of a cap to retain the same. in position upon a re- 1around said skirt and having portions of its,

ceptacle, the ends of said band being forcibly drawn towards each other,and means forming a part of said ends for non-restorably interlockingthe same, said means being operable by deforming the same with the bandends in contact.

13. A milk tiottle closure, including, in-

combination, a cap having a downwardly-extending skirt, said cap to .beapplied to the mouth of a bottle with the skirt enclosing the pouringlip thereof, a split band disposed body corrugated, theends of said bandextending at an angle to the bodyqthereof and one of said ends beingformed with an o ening, a hollow stud extendin outwardly second end ofsaid ban the band being of initially insuflicient lengthto encircle saidskirt and being adapted to be extended to have said )stud extend throughthe opening, said stud beingsubsequently deformed to prevent a de-,taehment of the band ends. Y

14. A closure, includingia skirted cap, av

split.band encircling the outer face ofthe cap skirt, and meansassociated with the end portions of saidbarfd for interlockingpermanently such end portions by deforming the same, the removal of saidband being effected jby a destruction of portions thereof.

15. A closure, including, in combination, a cap having a centralexpansible cup portion rom the and a depending skirt, a split bandencirclin the outer face ofsaid skirt, said band inclu ing a body havinga normall constricted portion-and being of a length msufiicient toenclose said skirt, said band ends being drawn into contact with eachother, and said constricted portion beingpermanently expanded durin suchdrawing action, the force reuire for said expanding bein such that t eskirt of said cap is drawn downwardly over the pouring lip ofthereceptacle to be sealed and the cup portion of said cap is expanded,and means at the ends of said band for interlocking the same permanentlyafter the completion of such expansion.

16. As an article of manufacture, a'split band adapted for useinsealingbottle caps and the like,comprisinga stri of metal having its endsextending outward y in the same direction at substantial right angles tothe face of the band; one of said ends being formed with an opening andthe other of said ends being formed with a protrusion adapted to beinserted through said openin and deformed to secure the ends of the bantogether.

17 As an article of manufacture, a split band ada ted for use in sealingbottle caps and the li e, comprising a strip of metal having its endsextending outwardly in the same direction a t substantial right anglesto the .face'of the band; one of said ends being formed with an opening,and the other of said ends having a protruding collar ada ted to beinserted through said opening an deformed to secure the ends-of the bandtogether.

18. As an article of manufacture, a split band ada ted for use insealing bottle-caps and the li e, comprising a strip of metal having itsends extending outwardly in-the same direction at substantial rightangles to the face of the band, rigidifyin means between the body ofsaid band and't e outwardly-extending ends; one of said ends beingformed vwith an opening, and the other of said ends being formed with aprotrusion adapted to be inserted through said opening and deformed tosecure the ends of the band together.

19. As an article of manufact re, a split band ada ted for use insealing bottle caps and the li e, comprising a'stri of metal having itsends extending outwar ly in the same direction at substantial rightangles to the face of the band; said ban d including transversecorrugations which shorten the effective length thereof; and one of saidends. being formed with an opening and the other being formed with aprotrusion adapted to be inserted through said openin and deformed tosecure the ends of the ban to ther.

- 20. As an article of manu acture, a split ,band adapted-for use insealing bottle caps and the like, comprising a stri of metal having 1tsends extending outwa ly in the same direction atsubstantial right anglesto the face of the band; said band being partially ,band adpated for usein sealing bottle caps 19 out adjacent one of its ends whereby subseandthe like, comprising a stri of metal; one quent rupture thereof isfacilitated; one of of the ends of said strip being ormed with an saidends being formed with an opening, and opening and the other end havinga protrud- 5 the other being formed with a protrusion ing collar adaptedto be inserted through said adapted to be inserted through said openingopening and deformed to secure the ends of 15 and deformed to secure theends of the band the band together. together. In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

21. As an article of manufacture, a split WILLIAM H. KNOWLES.

